July 29th, 2010 by admin
How Musicals Developed To What They Are Today
A musical can be in the form of a theatrical production or a movie, either of which uses songs and dancing as a means to tell the story. There are many types of musical theater, such as comedy drama, dramas, and others.
They use music to tell their story. Musicals have always had a stage presence, but it has made its way into movies as well. If you have never seen a musical theater production or drama comedy, then you are missing out on a cool treat.
There are three main parts to musical theater; the music, the lyrics and the book. Music and lyrics are easy to understand, and the book is just an expression for the real storyline. Musicals are different from operas because there is talking in the show, whereas operas incorporate only songs.
Musical theater dates back as far as ancient Greece, with their drama comedies. In the golden age of the musical, musical movies were being made all the time. An actor or actress could actually have several musical movies in their acting career. Nearly all the hot movies back then were musical in nature. Now, however, that has faded and movie casting today has little to do with musical talent.
The history of musicals is quite interesting as well. The concept of musical theater started with the Greeks. Some have dated this as far back as the 5th century B.C. Europe quickly stole this form of theater, and created the traveling musical troupe.
By the Renaissance period, comedy drama was increasing popular in Europe. These were quickly turned into comedic operas and ballad operas. Each of these two styles had their unique features.
It wasn’t until the 1860s that the form of modern musical theater was considered to be created. This originated with the musical “The Black Crook,” which was created in New York. Of course, musical theater took off rapidly from there. During WWI, the operetta was very popular on Broadway.
However, by the late 1920s, films were providing a serious challenge to the world of theater. By the 1950s and 60s, the musical theater, as it is known today, was going strong and has not changed too much since.
So that is where musicals came from, and how they developed to what they are today. You can tell anyone about the basic musical form, and some of the history of the musical. Back in the hay-day of musical theater, many dramatic movie actors were involved as well, but that has faded away.
If you want to know more about the theater, then check at your local library or online. You may be surprised at what you can find out about the evolution of musicals!
A whole world of information about musicals eagerly awaits you from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our acting workshops blog.
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July 29th, 2010 by admin
Find Tons of Free Piano Music Online
Sheet music can be expensive to purchase on a regular basis. If you want to expand your piano music library without spending a lot of money, download free sheet music from the Internet. A simple Internet search for “free sheet music,” “free piano music” and “piano music online” opens up many avenues for you to explore. Consider even more variations and your website possibilities will overflow.
Many sites offer total access to their piano music library. Others permit limited access to free sheet music. If you desire their full complement of music, you may have to sign up for a membership and pay a fee. However, even limited access to their free resources may give you the music you require.
The best sheet music sites allow you to refine your search for piano tunes. Many have detailed search functions that let you search by artist, genre or period. You can specify Baroque or Impressionist classical music and find what you need quicker. You can perform a search that narrows things down even more, for example, indicating you want “Jazz Christmas Tunes.” You can be as specific as you need to be on a quality piano music website.
When searching for free piano music, you will find music directories that list other sites that can offer piano music. These directories are a valuable resource. With these sites you obtain links to a host of other sites containing a wide variety of music. A good piano music site often has little extras. Some supply the sheet music in a PDF format for download.
Many sites supply free piano music and have accompanying audio files that allow you to listen to songs as you print them. Some incorporate free music lessons and piano tutorials in a digital feed format. You can find lots of free piano music online by joining a music forum. Here you can chat with other musicians and share information about where to find the piano music you need. You will find that others often know about less popular websites that have great databases of free sheet music. You cannot efficiently search every website in cyberspace yourself; why not get help from those who already know where the good ones are?
Another great source for free piano music is university or college online libraries. You can find specific music to download on many of these sites. Many of these also provide links to even more sites that have free sheet music downloads. A university site is a wonderful resource for older collections of piano music as well.
One caveat is to be sure the sites are truly free sites. Don’t be lured into giving out your credit card number as a one-time administration fee or anything like that. While you may access a lot of music, you did pay. You may find you will pay even more if you do not read the fine print and have authorized monthly payments on your card for a membership to a site.
A savvy searcher can find tons of free piano music online. Free piano music from reputable websites can provide you with an endless stream of music for your enjoyment.
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July 29th, 2010 by admin
Jazz Music – History and Facts Revealed
The 20th century music world has seen the entry of light and easy listening music with African-American jazz music. Originating in southern USA, jazz music is a combination of African and European music traditions. It puts together the use of blue notes, improvisation, syncopation and swing notes.
Jazz music was first used in reference to music from Chicago early in the 20th century. It has evolved in several other subgenres such as New Orleans Dixieland, big band-style swing, bebop, Afro-Cuban jazz, Brazilian jazz, jazz-rock fusion, and the more recent acid jazz.
The realm of jazz music was and still is predominantly associated with the American black community. These black musicians transitioning from banjos and tambourines learned to play European instruments such as the violin. Black slaves from early America used to sing and play music as a form of spiritual or ritualistic hymns.
After emancipation, employment opportunities for black slaves were very limited as segregation laws were still in force. Most of these black slaves found themselves in the entertainment industry as piano players and instrumentalists. They became low-cost entertainers as minstrels, vaudeville players, piano bar players, and marching band members. Soon, this kind of jazz music called Ragtime Jazz spread from the southern USA to other areas in the western and northern cities in USA.
Ragtime jazz became very popular in the early part of the century. Musician Jelly Roll Morton published the first ever jazz arrangement in print in 1915 with the title Jelly Roll Blues. This printed arrangement brought forth a new breed of musicians playing ragtime. Ragtime music moved on from red-light district bars and vaudeville shows to major concert locations such as the Carnegie Hall.
The first jazz record was recorded in 1913 by Society Orchestra, the first black group to come out with a record. Another group that came up with their very own jazz music recording is the “Original Dixieland Jazz Band”. Other bands followed suit, releasing jazz music recordings starting in 1917. In 1922, the most famous blues singer of the decade, Bessie Smith, also released her first recording. Also in the 1920s, Jelly Roll Morton played with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings and made history as the first mixed-race recording collaboration. Big bands like those of Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington and Earl Hines played the more prominent venues and paved the way for the development of big-band-style swing jazz.
Louis Armstrong, a trumpeter, band leader and singer, came to be known as the Ambassador of Jazz, what with his early innovations in jazz music. Swing music is considered to be popular dance music and is played from printed musical arrangements. Then came the bebop which focuses more on small groups and simple arrangements.
Throughout the years jazz music has always been preferred music genre among those who enjoy light and easy listening. There are radio stations that play only jazz music. Jazz music can be heard most everywhere hotel lounges, salons, concert halls, wedding receptions, Jazz music is perhaps also the most unique form of music as there are no two jazz music performances are ever the same.
Sayid Aksa is the author of http://musicmars.com
You can watch best jazz music videos and other cool music videos from various genres on his site.
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July 28th, 2010 by admin
Creating the Life You Desire. Yes, You Can!
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned and would like to instill in you is that you are responsible for your success. No one else is. Not your parents, your community, your government or your friends. It’s all up to you. While that may seem harsh, if you reframe it a little, it’s liberating.
While it’s nearly impossible to succeed without the help of others, once you embrace the idea that you are the driving force behind your situation, you realize the only person holding you back is you.
The life you live right now is the life you have created for yourself, so far. If this life is not what you want, you have to strategically start to make the decisions and take the actions necessary to create the life you desire.
The first decision is to realize that the past doesn’t define you. What has happened has happened. If you got fired, dumped, divorced, bankrupt, injured, sick, or born into a family of whackos, guess what? Regardless of your past, there are countless stories of people overcoming those same circumstances to create wonderful success stories.
Look at the past as a school for you. This school has taught you some important lessons that you can take into the future. The key is to look back on the past without emotion. This is not always easy to do, but imagine you are kind of an experience auditor peaking into the past of a client. Your job is to objectively analyze what happened, why it happened, and extract the most positive lesson from the experience that you can use moving forward.
Maybe, because of self-doubt, you allowed a situation to continue to worsen until the point something bad happened. Maybe you let a relationship go on for way too long or you put off making an important business call and you lost the account. What happened can’t be changed, but recognizing and taking responsibility for not letting that self-doubt control you again will fortify you as you move forward in creating your new future.
If you are unhappy in your current state of life, you can come up with all kinds of excuses, but not one good reason for not creating the life you want.
The very important truth you must face is that only you can control you. You cannot control the economy, or other people, or how you were raised as a child. You can only control you. If you do not like what you see in the mirror, you cannot break the mirror to change what you see. You have to change what the mirror reflects. You have to change from the inside out. This is an important realization in transforming your beliefs, which is a critical step in reducing and then eliminating self-doubt.
This is also why, in the first year of a martial arts student’s training my emphasis in their training is 90-percent mental and 10-percent physical. I have to change how they see their potential to be a black belt before I can physically train them for black belt. We have to realize that our changes, too, must start with how we think. We have to change our internal programming.
John Graden is a fun, exciting, and inspirational speaker, author, and trainer.
John Graden is the author of The Impostor Syndrome. The Impostor Syndrome is the feeling you’re not as smart, talented, or skilled as others think you are. It’s the feeling you’ve been faking it and are about to be found out. Learn more about the book at:
http://www.TheImpostorSyndrome.com
A martial arts master teacher, he is the author of five books including The Impostor Syndrome: How to Replace Self-Doubt with Self-Confidence and Train Your Brain for Success, Mr. Graden has been profiled by hundreds of international publications including over 20 magazine cover stories and a comprehensive profile in the Wall Street Journal
Presentations include: The Impostor Syndrome, Black Belt Leadership, The Secret to Self Confidence, and How to Create a Life Instead of Making a Living, John has taught his proven and unique principles of success to thousands of people on three continents since 1987.
From keynote presentations for thousands to one-on-one coaching sessions, John Graden is a dynamic speaker, teacher, and media personality who brings passion and entertainment to his presentations.
http://www.JohnGraden.com
http://www.JohnGradenTV.com
July 28th, 2010 by admin
Banish Not Sexuality as an Unwanted Stepchild. Liberate, Communicate and Celebrate Its Sacred Expression!
Uncovering the Sublime Esoteric Creativity Found in Sexual Preference Ambiguous discontented sexuality masks itself in a myriad of forms most especially in hostility, sarcasm and deceptive privacy. (A nervous laugh is almost always attached) When one is overly private, an indication of an unresolved sexual issue is at its base. Privacy is not the same thing as secrecy. Secrecy is a high magical act of sorts but marked privacy signifies an unsettled irresolute sexually entwined matter that needs addressing. Sexuality is the highest form of creative (spiritual) energy available to mankind but often times becomes distorted due to circumstances not processed, assimilated and disposed of. The person ‘walls himself/herself in’ in order to protect the excessive vulnerability felt. The inability to reveal or convey ones innermost feelings determines a caustic way of superficial existence. Complications arise which will cause undo problems in intimate relationships until faced, absorbed and dispersed.
Authentic masculinity does not embody a trait of ‘skirting questions’, nor does true femininity involve “coy uncertainty.’ Both personality behaviors suggest an inability to penetrate beyond the veil of pretense. Although emotional involvements may be somewhat uncomfortable, true intimacy demands submission/surrender on some levels. Human beings are not naturally overly cautious, reserved, skeptical and suspicious of the motives of others. When the personality offers resistance in this overt manner, a yellow flag of ‘holding grudges’ waves brightly. Next, ungrounded ‘blame’ will show up in the relationship making it difficult to hold the union together for any length of time.The very young pre-teenage years usually present the so-called unfortunate situation which barred the release of imaginative expression. Since sexuality is often mistaken for procreative signaling, things occur ‘tangling up the mind and body’ in animosity for years to come. Releasing animosity associated with a seemingly abusive event in those very young formative years requires a giant leap of faith but necessary for effective communication to occur. Females are prone to make excuses and often overcompensate for the other in the relationship when this occurs. Neither state, that being too private or overcompensating provide the necessary ground to work with unless a meeting (acceptance) of the soul occurs. The soul determines the outcome without explanation. This susceptible act of release (forgiveness) will involve the ‘breaking down of sexual barriers’. Nothing else will substitute!
What does that entail? [The obvious need to embrace the totality of ones specific earth path, including all of the painful confusing betraying sexual events that have occurred.] {4R’s} Releasing the event after recognizing its relevance in the creative make-up of the person’s unique density. Raw honesty: verbalizing specific needs in unexplored regions of sexual activity. Eliminating the guilt, blame, anger and the confusion of pain/pleasure associated with the circumstance. Before an affable union can occur between romantic partners, the {4 R’s} must be engaged and entertained.
In addition, the two partners must cease playing unsatisfying games, in hopes the other will read his/her mind. No such chance. We are equipped with mouths to express outwardly our chosen pleasures. Human beings are natural artists and need to express the innate art in them whether that be musical, artistic, dramatic or physical. These gifts can only be unlocked though the viable expression of a satisfying rewarding unrestricted, unrestrained sex life. If you want a piece of chocolate cake you ask for it, don’t you? Same goes for specific realms of sexual enjoyment
Being able to truly open up does away with the idea that one can be taken in by another. In other words, you do not have to experience jealousy, envy or resentment because you possess no further need to control the outcome. Satisfying expressive sexual activity sharpens the mind, opens the heart, increases vitality, encourages genuine laughter, fosters relaxation and produces true joy. The mind takes on a new edge of sharpness; solutions to problems resolve themselves by an inherent subliminal force of unexpected creative appearance.
Every intense daily occurrence is experienced more vibrantly and colorfully. We, humans are designed to receive and give ultimate pleasure and enjoyment. Tones, colors, scents, tastes, sensations and music crystallize!. To reduce, restrict or limit that ‘natural and convenient’ movement is not only detrimentally paralytic but oppressively limiting. Sexual activity is as normal as breathing and should not be hidden away like an unwanted step child. When one acts spontaneously to these natural attracting urges, without label or dissection, a robust flavorful existence emerges untainted by hatred and bitterness. Sublime sacred creative energy finds its expression in art, music, drama and the written word. One is able to create what he/she wills. By engaging in the natural and convenient sexual expression afforded him/her, an abundance of trust floods the life unceasingly.
No longer a restricted unsatisfied life lived within the boundaries of telling only as much as it takes to get by. Surrounded by people, he/she is able to live instinctively, operating on a pleasantly induced surge of gut level power. Gone is the meaningless chit-chat, replaced by the extraordinary reverberation of true connection. By engaging in actively satisfying sexual creative episodes, he/she will perform on an instinctive cue, able to dispel any measure of superficiality in himself and others. The alienating events that transpired in his young life will be transformed into meaningful teaching experiences.
Sacred Sexual creative energy embodies a deeply emotional unity of spirit. He/she will learn to value the art of silence and not use it as avoidance and escapism. We are endowed with enormous sexuality, creativity and attracting sensuality. We have not yet lived long enough to know to what extent this enormous power will yield. A multitude of artistic gifts; any of which would bring soulful satisfaction is waiting to be excavated and explored. Dreams will be more easily accessed and viewed as prophetic vehicles of valid credence.
Unleashing the tremendous limitless creativity locked up in truly imploded sexuality can and does set the captive free. This undeniable sacred means of transportation for mankind can be transmigrated into a force of monumental status where caring, loving; being interested and vested human beings for the welfare of the entire globe is established and maintained. Too often we hide, restrict and discount that which will ultimately liberate us all ! Why not start today? Get real with your genuine sacred erotic appeal.
Proud Native {Born, Bred, and Resident} of North Carolina, married 39 spectacular years, 6 children, 11 grandchildren.
I am passionate about love, living, laughter, liberty, learning, listening, loosening up, lounging, lunch, liveliness, literacy, lip stick, letting my hair down, leaping, leaning, libido, lifting, linking, looking, lodging, lemons and lyrics.
My personal and professional background is wide and varied. I have a BS in Communication with a MA in Art Education. I am a Cosmic Therapist, artist, entertainer, singer/songwriter, musician, composer, playwright, perfumer, astrology, author, teacher, speaker, poet and self-taught chef.
I am also a radio/television talk show creator, host and director. In addition when I’m not busy, I maintain a presence at M.O.D.E International School of Esoteric Arts and Sciences of which I founded many years ago,
July 28th, 2010 by admin
Waiting for my change
Waiting for my change
Change can best be described as making something different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone. Ovid states: All things change, nothing is extinguished. There is nothing in the whole world which is permanent. Everything flows onward; all things are brought into being with a changing nature; the ages themselves glide by in constant movement.
Job 14:13-14 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man dies, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
Job’s three friends came to comfort him, but they ended up criticizing him. Mortal human beings are far too ignorant to understand fully the ways of God. For us to fit God into our own little “theological boxes” is to limit Him and make Him less than God.
Job appeals for sympathy. His friends did not show love and understanding; to them Job was a theological problem, not a suffering saint. Job then appeals for a chance to confront God. Job appeals to his basic integrity. He denies that he is secretly a sinner. He knows his own heart. He appeals to his faith in God. Yet God seemed to have abandoned Job. He then appeals to die. He asks God to hide him in a grave; a place where he can find rest until the situation had past and that God would remember him.
Today you might be in the midst of some of life’s unfortunate storms. Like Job the storms may not be a result of anything you have done or even brought upon yourself. Maybe you have sought help, counsel or support from friends and can’t find any love or understanding. As we read in Job some events in life are for an appointed time. In other words trouble will not last always. Job realized that even in death there is a change. All the days of our life are in God’s hand and when we are facing the storms of life, whether physical, spiritual, mental, emotional or even financial.
One of the most inspiring individuals I have read about is Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President. He was the youngest president in U.S. History. As a child he was weak and sickly for many years. While being confined to the indoors he developed a love for reading and learning. Upon entering the presidency, Roosevelt had established a style of his own that he retained throughout his life. He was a reformer. He challenged convention to achieve what he believed to be morally right. He handled controversy well, a trait essential for someone with his thirst for quick action. He had learned to adapt to change.
Franklin Roosevelt says “When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. Today if you are suffering any hardship, be encouraged this too (name it) shall pass. And like Job, wait for your change to come. I’m waiting for my change !! So let’s wait together. Be Blessed. God loves you and so do I….Pastor Tammy
Pastor, Mentor, Spiritual Counselor, Conference Speaker and Bible Teacher. Founder of Sister to Sister Ministry and The WellSpring of Life. Our top priority is to help individuals establish and develop a personal relationship with Christ. It is our desire to connect with sisters in every city, state, and the nations. It is a privilege to connect with you, through prayer, worship and in sharing the awesome Word of God. We are here to encourage, inspire and challenge you to become all that God has destined for your life. This is a praying ministry. We have a heart of compassion for people from all walks of life and especially for those who are hurting. Our purpose is to maintain the same values as that of OUR FATHER, and be a living example of his love and grace to all mankind. We are not into religion, but we do believe in relationships. It’s not about us but it’s about Jesus.
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July 28th, 2010 by admin
Rock Music – History and Facts Revealed
Rock music is often associated with heavy instrumentation, reverberating through a sound system, and played by hyperactive musicians wearing all-black garb. This kind of music has enjoyed over half a century of popularity with its strong beat and catchy melody.
Rock music started in the 1940s and the 1950s as a fusion of rhythm and blues, gospel music, and country music. Originally known as rock and roll, as branded by disc jockey Alan Feed from Ohio, rock music combined influences resulted in simple blues-based style that was fast and danceable.
Instrumentation for rock music often include electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, and keyboards. Others add to their line-up reed instruments like the saxophone and the French horn. String instruments like the mandolin and the sitar are occasionally seen in the realm of rock music. Of all these instrumentations, it is the guitar that is considered to be the star of the show. Guitars come as solid electric, hollow electric or acoustic.
The electric guitar was played rock and roll style by early rock legends Chuck Berry, Link Wray and Scotty Moore. Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan played a fusion of blues and rock. As multitrack recording was developed by Les Paul along with electronic sound treatment by Joe Meek, it was not long after when rock music artists like Jackie Breston and Bill Haley came out with their first rock and roll records. Breston released his record Rocket 88 under recording label Sun Records. And then several years after, Haleys Rock Around the Clock was launched and topped the charts of Billboard magazine in terms of record sales and airtime plays. Sun Records also produced rock and roll king Elvis Presleys first single labelled Thats All Right (Mama). Shake, Rattle & Roll of Big Joe Turner was also topping the Billboard R&B charts during this time.
The fusioning of rock music extended into the 1960s and the 1970s, with rock music being combined with folk music to create folk rock, with blues to create blues-rock, and with jazz to create jazz rock. Electrical instrument ambiance was incorporated into rock music to create the carefree psychedelic rock. Influences from soul, funk and latin music were integrated with rock music to pave way for subgenres as soft rock, heavy metal, hard rock, progressive rock, and punk rock.
Rock music took a metallic turn in the 1980s and 1990s with the entry of rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Queen, Aerosmith, Kiss, AC/DC and Black Sabbath. Hard rockers heightened the commercialization of rock and roll with albums and concerts being launched all over the country. Arenas and other similar big venues were used as a places to gather crowds and crowds of rock music fans. Live performances in rock concerts had rock fans screaming and going wild over rock bands performing to full performance level complete with stage design and pyrotechnics.
Some of the other developments in rock music are retro style grunge, theatrical glam rock (Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and the New York Dolls), intense Britpop (John Lennon and the Beatles), indie rock and nu rock (Police, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, and the Culture Club).
Rock music has not been as popular with music critics at some point in time owing to its dark and overly loud metallic sound. But innovations and developments in look, style and sound has slowly developed a following for rock music not only in the young crowd but for the public in general as well. Rock music still manages to chalk up big hits in popular music.
Sayid Aksa is the author of http://musicmars.com
You can watch best rock music videos and other cool music videos from various genres on his site.
July 28th, 2010 by admin
Alternative Music – History and Facts Revealed
The evolution of music has brought forth hundreds of music variations in so many forms to the basic music categories. This diversity in music forms have categorized in alternative music those ish style music that come as slight style alterations to most popular music forms (i.e. alternative rock or rock-ish music for rock music that does not really fit into the mainstream genres of a particular time period).
Alternative music is a category coined as a sort of catch-all for those sub-genres that are unclassified but can be traced with similarities to popular genres. These alternative music are usually those that were not released commercially and are recorded on independent labels. Some music from this category, from word of mouth, would soon find its way into the mainstream and become commercially successful.
Off-Country
Country music that does not conform to the prevailing country style is generally classified as alternative music. Musicians playing alternative country music are generally those who do not subscribe to high production values and popularity concerns. Their music are of lo-fi sound quality and often incorporated strong punk and rock and roll qualities and contained lyrics that are bleak, gothic or socially aware. The range of their music spans American folk tune to rockabilly and honky-tonk to a fusion of rock and country music. Alternative country music has developed several namesakes like Americana, neotraditional, progressive country, lo-fi country, and twang core.
Not-so-hip Hip-Hop
The alternative version of hip hop has not been very popular. Artists claiming to play alternative rap or alternative hip hop are non-conformists who wish to turn from the common drug and violence-directed mainstream rap. Alternative hip-hop fuses influences from funk, rock, jazz, soul and reggae. Some of these alternative hip-hop groups have somehow found themselves in mainstream success like Black Star, Mos Def, De La Soul, M.I.A., Kidz in the Hall, Consequence, Jurassic 5 and Brand Nubian.
Electric Rock
Alternative music is most often used to refer to alternative rock. It used to be that the word alternative was used in the 1980s to refer to punk rock-inspired bands that do not belong to major record labels and have no clear genre association. There are a lot of influences in alternative rock namely, grunge, Britpop, gothic rock and indie pop. Most of these alternative rock artists were considered cult acts and recorded their albums on independent labels. Their popularity was largely due to the exposure their alternative music got in college radios and word-of-month. The band Nirvana entry in the alternative music scene has propelled the popularity of several other bands playing alternative rock music. Metallica is another group who made it big in the mainstream music world playing alternative rock.
Perhaps an offshoot of alternative rock is alternative dance music. This kind of music combined elements of dance-pop which includes forms of electronic house or techno, and alternative rock genres. Alternative dance music can be characterized as mostly electronic, pre-programmed beats and sequenced synthesizer melodies.
As there will always be popular music, there will always be a spot for alternative music. After all, there will always be music that falls somewhere in-between, music that is somewhat like but not entirely the same as what is predominantly popular at a certain period in time.
Sayid Aksa is the author of http://musicmars.com
You can watch best alternative music videos and other cool music videos from various genres on his site.
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July 28th, 2010 by admin
Children of The Incarcerated: Discarded Forgotten Society
MODE Of Cosmic Therapy: Our Moralistic Duty To Mankind
A broken society of forgotten children is banging its way up the ladder of their demoralizing childhood while very few people are aware of the devastating lives they are being forced to live. The unfortunate circumstances imposed on them are due to no fault of their own. Surprising as this may seem to some, this particular segment of population, abandoned and neglected, (children) has grown beyond imaginable leaps and bounds in the last few years. Not many people have any reason to give a thought to the overwhelming effects caused by having a parent (s) incarcerated. But, today I propose a moment of conscious thought on their behalf. The spiraling effects are more than upsetting. Not only do the children suffer due to their loss of parental love, supervision, respect, guidance and comradeship; they must endure the awful demoralizing labeling stigma referred and projected on them as ’prison spawn.’
These children regrettably, without any negligible say so, pay a heavy life-long penalty for their parents’ poor decision making faculties (mistakes). It’s a heart rendering sobering reality for the children to endure, but sadder still is the stunning statistical data that states that more than 70 % of the children whose parents are incarcerated will end up in behind bars themselves. Who cares? You should and every one else who is living in this land of the free civilized society of America, today.
Mandatory sentencing guidelines and a growing number of drug-related convictions are factors in a continued growth of inmates held in federal, state and local prisons and jails in the United States. In other words, the bulk of the prison population is not found among those who have committed violent crimes. The United States imprisons significantly more people than any other nation in the world. In fact, the PewCenter on the States reported in 2008 that an astounding one in every 100 adults in the U.S. now lives behind bars! And over the next two years, researchers predict the situation will get even worse.
At a particularly mind-blowing rate, more people are being locked up then ever before. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in June 2008, a staggering 2,310,984 prisoners were held in federal or state prisons or in local jails – an increase of 0.8% from yearend 2007. More importantly and certainly surprising, – The number of women under the jurisdiction of state or federal prison authorities increased 1.2% from yearend 2007, reaching 115,779, and the number of men rose 0.7%, totaling 1,494,805. The vast majority of these incarcerated women are mothers.
What do these figures have to with you and your family? Everything! [Because, esoterically, humanely, conscionably and spiritually everything has something to do with “it”]. Why are these numbers important and how do we, as law abiding citizens, fix a stake in the activities of non-violent criminals? First on the agenda is awareness. We can not bury our heads in the sand and pretend like it doesn’t matter. If you’re alive, reading these words, breathing, enjoying the benefits of your ‘somewhat’ preferred existence, then you can idealistically acknowledge that nothing that occurs is exempt from your own life. We can not simply dismiss these people as not belonging to the entire body of our civilization any more than we can cut away the heart from the lungs. They are not some sort of unclassifiable insects to be placed under an undignified microscope for investigation, as if they are not part of the viable human race
IF, you simply can not relate on any recognizable human level, just think about the astronomical economical deterring negative impact the extenuating problems will present. FYI: We have countless prisons that are inestimably overcrowded. This dilemma, alone, at the very least, would consume the best strategic minds to reduce the surmounting cost to house, feed, clothe and educate confined inmates. And, although local jails are generally operating under their stated capacities, all state and federal prisons are extremely overcrowded — some as much as 33 percent higher than their official capacities.
Based on current projections, by 2011 the U.S. prison population will increase by 13% – which is triple the growth of the entire population as a whole – to more than 1.7 million. Supporting that increase in incarcerated people will cost American taxpayers and local/state budgets an estimated .5 billion. At that time, another 4 million people will also be on probation or parole.
Back to my original concern, however, what happens to the children of this huge cancerous growth? The net effect is that states, counties, courts, sheriffs, and administrators are actively looking for ways to address the almost unmanageable issue. According to the latest findings, it is now estimated that 7 million children, or 10 percent of the population under the age of 18, have a parent under some form of correctional supervision. While research is limited in this area, early indications from preliminary studies suggest, that children of incarcerated parents are three to six times more likely to exhibit violent or serious delinquent behavior.
Further Statistics:
* The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that 2.3 children are affected by the 1.1 million parents incarcerated in prisons or jails, up from 500,000 children in 1991.
* Approximately 75 percent of incarcerated women are mothers and two-thirds have children under age 18.
* Seventy-two percent of female inmates with children under age 18 lived with those children before entering prison.
* Six percent of women entering prison are pregnant.
* From 1990 to 2000, the number of mothers in prison grew 87 percent, while fathers increased by 61 percent.
* Fifty-four percent of mothers in state prison said they never had visits from their children.
* Approximately 55 percent of incarcerated men are fathers of children under the age of 18.
* Thirty-two percent of men in prison have two or more children under the age of 18.
* On any given day, there are approximately 1 million fathers behind bars.
* Fifty-seven percent of fathers in state prison report never having visits from their children.
The humanistic resolution concerning this life debasing problem resulting from the forgotten society of the children of inmates will not resolve itself without consciously motivated intervention. I have merely presented to you statistics without presenting or dissecting the emotional, mental, financial, spiritual, physical and educational needs of these deprived young ones. Every child is precious; their talents/gifts irreplaceable, and their unique contribution significantly important to the entire weaving of the intricate fabric of mankind. What can we do? It begins with recognition of the sacred profound desire to move into this technologically advanced meteorite propelled American civilization with an upsurge in our consciousness. We must embrace that which we don’t understand fully, comprehend completely and typically turn a deaf ear to simply because our minds are bombarded with other time-consuming meaningless activities. If we can realize the catastrophic consequences of consuming plates that are much too full, we may just get a cosmic glimpse of the unbearable penalties. “…Suffer not the children to come unto me: if anyone offends one of least of these; he has done it unto me…” (Paraphrased) It’s worth pondering when you get the time.
Proud Native {Born, Bred, and Resident} of North Carolina, married 39 spectacular years, 6 children, 11 grandchildren.
I am passionate about love, living, laughter, liberty, learning, listening, loosening up, lounging, lunch, liveliness, literacy, lip stick, letting my hair down, leaping, leaning, libido, lifting, linking, looking, lodging, lemons and lyrics.
My personal and professional background is wide and varied. I have a BS in Communication with a MA in Art Education. I am a Cosmic Therapist, artist, entertainer, singer/songwriter, musician, composer, playwright, perfumer, astrology, author, teacher, speaker, poet and self-taught chef.
I am also a radio/television talk show creator, host and director. In addition when I’m not busy, I maintain a presence at M.O.D.E International School of Esoteric Arts and Sciences of which I founded many years ago,
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July 27th, 2010 by admin
Music Copyright Myths and Royalty Free Music
Ever downloaded music from the Internet? Perhaps you wanted to use it in the classroom, or needed it for your website, or to add to a flash movie, or maybe to jazz up a multimedia project. Whatever the end use, more and more of us are frequently turning to the Internet as our one-stop resource for digital music because we know that it is a fast and easy way to get just what we are looking for! Unfortunately, what many of us don’t know is that it may not be legal to do so. Downloading music files from the Internet and using them like the music belonged to you means that not only are you infringing upon the copyright, but you are also risking being fined and even being legally prosecuted.
The law does not recognize if you are unaware of copyright laws. So, don’t put yourself in an illegal situation when it is so easy and affordable to use Royalty Free Music from music production libraries. And don’t base your online actions on hearsay.
This article attempts to bust some common myths that abound in the virtual world, and put you on the right side of the law.
Myth 1: It is legal to use any music for 7 seconds
Fact: No. Unlawful use of even a short excerpt from a song is enough to land you in a copyright infringement case. Don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise, unless he is a copyright attorney! Remember, there is nothing like free to use music – not for 30 seconds, not for 7 seconds, not even for the first eight bars! You need a license to use music without landing into trouble.
Myth 2: I bought a music CD, I can use the music on my website since I paid for it.
Fact: Wrong. You bought the CD – not the music! Buying a legitimate CD gives you the right to play the music privately. You definitely need permission from the composer of the music as well as the sound recording company to use the music on the CD as background music for your website.
Myth 3: The composer is dead, his music is no longer under copyright.
Fact: Untrue. The copyright for a music composition lasts for approximately 70 years from the death of the composer. It does not automatically expire with its creator. And even if the composer is dead since a long time – like Mozart for example – you still don’t have the right to use someone’s interpretation of their music without a license.
Myth 4: It’s for a non-profit organization, so I can use any music I want for free.
Fact: False. Your project (website, presentation, video, anything) may be non-profit, but when it becomes available to other people, you are allowing them to hear music they didn’t purchase. That is a breach of the copyright law, no matter if you are making money on the project or not.
Myth 5: I can use this music for free because I found it on the Internet.
Fact: Absolutely not. All music found on the internet is under copyright. If you reproduce, perform, or distribute musical compositions and sound recordings without the requisite licensing, you are violating copyright law.
Myth 6: I can use music because the website did not carry a copyright notice.
Fact: Beginning March 1, 1989, it is no longer mandatory to display the copyright notice to protect one’s intellectual property, in this case, music.
And if you are still not convinced, consider this: Would you pick up produce from a farm and walk away without leaving money for what you took? Most certainly not! You wouldn’t deprive a hard working farmer from his rightful income. Likewise, if you violate copyright law, you deprive a composer of the royalties derived from the purchase of their work. Think about it!
So what is copyright, anyway? When you own the copyright of a piece of work, it means literally that you have the “right to make copies” of that work. By extension you also have the right to license that work to others who want to use it. It is a form of intellectual property law that protects an original piece of work from being pirated and used without permission of its creator
To avoid getting on the wrong side of the law, consider purchasing a legal music license from royalty free music libraries. Whether you are looking for production music for your video or background music for a multimedia presentation, you can choose from literally thousands of royalty free soundtracks. What’s more, buying royalty free music online is really easy and affordable.
Stay clear of unauthorized reproduction and distribution of copyrighted music, and keep the copyright police from knocking at your door!
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