Author: blogger

Why music is essential for Happy, Successful Kids

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Parents want the best for their kids. Every parent wants his or her child to be healthy, successful and happy. Instilling music training back into the lives of children is vital for their future success as leaders. Learning music develops areas of a child that are not developed any other way.

I am a parent, music teacher and author of the Freddie the Frog Book series. The sole purpose of the creation and existence of Freddie the Frog is encapsulated in this impulsive quote by a six-year-old,

“I LOVE Freddie. Thats why I love music!”

Why is it important that kids love music? Music training is essential to the development of successful humansour children. The next generation is doomed to mediocrity without it. We are at a critical time in our current generation’s creative development of future leaders. Those that are creative and bright in all areas will be our next leaders. Those who leave development of intentional creative processing out of education will only be human factory workers of others’ creative thoughts. Music and the arts develop and intentionally exercise creativity. Music does it best.

Freddie the Frog is the mascot of music education for kids in the school system. Millions of kids in the U.S., Canada, and Australia love Freddie through their music teacher at school. Now it is time to reach the masses. The Freddie the Frog adventures originated to provide an accessible and entertaining form of music education for use at school and home. Freddie is alive and well in the schools. Now it is time to bring him into the homes. Why is it important to bring music into the homes?

Contemplate the current state of physical exercise compared to 20, 30,40 years ago and beyond. There was no need for scheduled and intentional physical exercise before the 1980s. Physical exercise was part of our daily lives. A generation of obesity crept into humanity until critical mass made evident that intentional exercise was essential for physical fitness and health. Exercise equipment, gyms, clubs, DVDs, etc. is a profitable and growing market as humanity strives to stay in shape in todays society.

In past generations, singing and playing instruments was an integral part of family life. It was the natural way to entertain yourself and others. We did not realize it, but we were also exercising our brain while we played, causing us to be creative, more vibrant, smarter, etc. To create leaders of the next generation, we need to focus on developing the whole brain. We can change the trend with intentional music training involving interactive music experiences from the earliest years and up–involving kids in the creative process rather than just passive consumers and critics. Freddie the Frog adventures are an easy way to begin. Breathing life into the creative minds and souls of our children– the next generation of leaders.

Every Child Needs Music

Why Music? Humans are “wired” for music. Until recently, scientists did not know how music affected the brain. The technology allows scientists to actually “see” brain activity via PET scans and MRI imaging scanning the blood flow in the brain. Our brains are “wired” with neural pathways. Most activities only cause a portion of the brain to “light up” with activity; thus, the saying, right brain/left brain, etc. But there are actually four parts to the brain and music makes ALL of the areas “light up” and create new neural pathways as a person is learning and playing an instrument. Those neural pathways remain in tact and can be used for other things besides music.

Music causes the mind to think smarter and creatively.

How? When playing music, the mind chooses how fast or slow to play, with what style, rhythm, phrasing, and feeling. It also tells the fingers when to move, reads and memorizes. When playing music, you do ALL of this at the SAME TIME!

The more you play, the more you exercise your mind. The exercised mind thinks better, making a student smarter.
A universal high percentage of band, choir, or orchestra members consistently remain in the top 10% percentile academically year after year.
Studies show that music training profoundly affects brain development.
Students learning music are not smarter because they like music; they are smarter because they PLAY music.
Music is one of the very few whole brain activities, engaging all four parts of the brain! The only other functions that use both hemispheres are higher-level mathematics and logic processing, such as chess. All other tasks rely on the dominant use of either the left or right brain.

Every Child Deserves the Multiple Benefits of Music

Read more about our phenomenal brain and music

Daniel Levitin passionately explores the connection between Music and the Brain in his book of the same name. Google his name, watch video clips on YouTube, or go to his website. Music has a huge impact on activity in the brain. The implications for music therapy and music education are profound. Just check out PBS video “The Music Instinct.” Its an exciting time of discovering how little we know and how much there is to learn. There is definitely enough evidence to recognize it is not in this music teachers imagination.

If you are still skeptical about the need for music instruction in development, lets look at the other benefits.
Socially, music is an ageless hobby creating interaction with a caliber of people that we all want our children to become.
Striving for excellence is a given in a musical group. Everyone has to perfect their part for the group to perform at their bestNObody “sits on the bench.” Everyone has to pull their weight or the whole group suffers.
Creativity, especially in jazz groups is developed, honed and embraced. Who couldnt use more creativity in their workforce? Creativity is what makes the difference and gives any company the cutting edge.

There are many benefits of being involved in making music. Scientists are reluctant to state that playing a musical instrument makes you smarter, but all the indicators are there, so lets look at it from the opposite angle.

Instead of trying to prove that music makes you smarter or good for you and your child, try to prove that it is not. I cant think of a single reason how learning a musical instrument is detrimental, can you?
Give your child every opportunity and advantage you can. Involve them in music lessons and watch them grow and mentally develop as they play, create, express, and struggle through the rigors of the discipline mastering an instrument. You will discover a more creative, brighter and mature person in the making.

Further information on the benefits of music education at:
www.supportmusic.com

Google search “Music and the Brain” to read even more.

How To Make Your Own Unique Music Box

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Copyright 2006 Monique Hawkins

For the music box and antique collectors who are creative and love arts and crafts, making a music box of their own can be fairly easy and great fun. Here are simple directions to make an exquisite music box called “Peter Cottontail”. These unique directions are from Sharon Ganske’s book, “Making Marvelous Music Boxes”.

Material Needed

For the Base, Including Music Box Accessories: Round chipboard box, 2 high and 5″ diameter; Square of wood, 2 X 2 X ” thick; 18-note key-wind musical movement, including a magnetic swing arm Key extendeder; 3/8″ T-bar winding key “; 4 wooden beads, ”

Decorative Accessories for Music Box

3 prepainted resin bunny figurines, 2″; Prepainted resin Easter tree, 3 ” ; Round beveled mirror, 5″ diameter; “-wide pink braided net ribbon; 16″; 5″ wide floral-print ribbon, 24″

Acrylic Paint Colors

Ivory and Medium pink Adhesive and Spray Sealer:

Hot glue sticks; Industrial strength glue; Tacky glue Tacky glue; thin-bodied Matte spray sealer

Tools and Brushes

Drill with ” drill bit; Glue gun; Old paintbrush; ; Paintbrush; Scissors

Once you have gathered all of the above materials, it is time to start making your music box. Here are the directions to assemble it.

Step One: prepare the chipboard box. Since these boxes are sometimes flimsy, they must be reinforced with by placing hot glue around the inside bottom edge of the box (side and bottom) and them allowing it to harden. Next, just apply a heavy layer of Tacky glue to the inside sides of the box and let them dry.

Step Two: using a paintbrush, paint box and lid with the ivory acrylic paint. Paint the beads with medium pink.

Step Three: Cut one strip from the net ribbon, 15 ? X 2 “, and one 4 ” circle. Using the thin-bodied Tacky glue, laminate net ribbon strip to side of box, lining up top edge. Cut small notches to side of box, lining up top edge. Cut small notches in ” overhang, laminating to box bottom and making sure it is flat and smooth. Centering, laminate 4 ” circle to box bottom.

Step Four: Using your industrial strength glue, glue square of wood to inside center front of box bottom to which musical movement will be glued. Allow to dry.

Step Five: To mark the hole position for the winding-key shaft, place musical movement inside box at front center (seam is at back). Draw a line around the musical movement. Remove musical movement and place a dot of paint on winding-key shaft. Press the musical movement, winding-key shaft side down, back in the box. Remove the musical movement and drill a ” hole in box, centering winding-key shaft in the hole.

Step Six: Using the industrial strength glue, glue beads, evenly space, to the bottom of the box for legs. Glue the musical movement into the box, centering the winding-key shaft in the hole.

Step Seven: Using Tacky glue, glue the lid on the box. Glue the braided trim to the side of lid. Glue the magnet that comes with the musical movement to the bottom of the bunny that has been chosen to dance and twirl. Allow to dry.

Step eight: Wind the wind key extender onto the winding key. Wind the wind key extender onto the winding-key shaft so music can play. Place a bunny with magnet on top of the mirror. Place the tree at the center back of box and remaining bunnies on each side of the tree. Move the tree and bunnies so the dancing bunny does not bump into them. When they are in the right position, glue them on with a small amount of industrial-strength glue. Make sure excess glue does not seep from under the figurines and onto the mirror.

Making music boxes does not have to be difficult. With a little creativity and imagination, the music box and antique collector can create their own collection!

Music Maker Software – Creating Music Without Instruments

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Is it really feasible to craft killer songs without being able to play instruments? While in the past it definitely was not, recently the improvement in software technology not only makes it possible but preferable. Music maker software has taken the art of composing music to a whole new degree but the majority of all its place music inside attain of practically anyone. For those who have a good ear for music and a passion to pump out your personal tunes then not being able to play an instrument could have held you back. Not anymore.

Music maker software comes in many various shapes and sizes and caters to various levels of musicians. While there are production packages that cost nicely over $10,000 you can get some extremely great software for beneath $50. Because everything is digital you really do not require much to create high quality tracks.

The very best part might be the fact that the most recent software program is so easy to use. Everything is visual and with drag-and-drop functions you are able to compose your music in no time. Perhaps the biggest advantage will be the reality that you have all of the instruments you’ll ever require at your disposal. Synthetic digital instruments not only sound incredibly real but using them is just as simple and user friendly.

If you’re a singer in require of track record music to sing more than then its perfect for you personally as a songwriter. You will be in a position to make beats, melodies and total songs by simply singing more than your music. You might require extra software to provide the last package in terms of fine tuning but with regards to generating the music, creating beats and getting a complete “band” there is no simpler or less expensive way than utilizing music maker software.

The Importance of Online Music PR for EDM and Urban Music Artists

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In todays world it seems that everyone wants to be a singer, rapper, producer etc, the list goes on and on, but it has not always been something that has been achievable to the masses due to restriction such as finding a label that will sign you, and once finding a label, getting a contract that allows the artist to have the creative control they desire. However for a while now the music industry has started to evolve, making the once impossible very possible and its down to two key things, the uprising of the independent record label and the birth of web 2.0, it is now possible for everyone to musician or record label owner.

Now it is no longer necessary for aspiring musicians to even be signed to a label, be it and indie or a major. With the birth of web 2.0 it is possible for artist to be visible within their market with the use of online tools to map out some form of PR strategy. We are no longer restricted to hearing new artists via radio play and the record stores new artist sections. In todays society everybody is online with their own individual online presence enabling them to interact with the masses through the use of social media, which includes social networks, websites and Apps. This now means that as an artist you have an audience of maximum reach as there are no limits to your distribution.

A couple of UK artist we can see that heavily use online PR within the urban scene includes the likes of, Wiley, Skepta, JME, Lethal Bizzle and the list continues. These artists use social media including Twitter, Facebook and official websites to interact with fans and keep them up to date on new releases, tours, competitions, merchandise availability and also to show the world that they are human through normal interaction and conversation with their fan base.

Lethal Bizzle is a UK artist and entrepreneur who is a great example of how online PR should be used by all artists and record labels to give them more visibility with their market and to generate revenue. Bizzle 30, of Walthamstow, London has been on the urban scene since 2002 but managed to stay underground till 2004 when he released POW which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 11 in its first week on the chart in 2005, and which reached number one on the UK Dance Chart. However he disappeared from the commercial scene up until 2011 when he re-released POW (2011) and started using a host of social media to interact with his fans. Bizzle currently uses YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, his official website staydench.com and Stay Dench app as PR tools that help him promote his music, brand (Stay Dench), merchandise and last but not least communicate with his consumers. The use of such tools have allowed Bizzle to reach a market which spans further than those who listen to UK urban and dance music.

Online practices of PR allow for people who wouldnt necessarily be a part of an artist primary audience to see what they are doing and what they are about, in many cases this often leads that individual to want to find out more about that artist which in time can leave them being a new fan/consumer.

The Urban and EDM industry are ones that dont always see many artists make it on commercial level but instead it sees their artists remain in the underground realm. This no longer has to be the case and this is because we now have access to online PR.

Online music PR is a service that Urban and EDM artists should exploit. As mentioned before the online PR allows musicians to reach a much bigger audience than if they were to just use traditional offline PR methods, which will often just target media that that particular artists primary audience interacts with. Online PR is what I like to call proactive, it enables you go out and get the artist music or product seen by whoever your audience may be, directly. Once you have high visibility online it will open artists to a whole host of opportunities that will benefit their carrier. Furthermore Online PR eliminates the waiting around that is normally involved in offline PR which involves sending press releases to journalist and bloggers that may or may not get back to you.

Lastly online PR allows the artist or record label to have more control over what is being said about the artist and their work, it also allows you to still engage with the fans from a remote location. All in all online PR is the way forward it is mobile with an unlimited reach.

How To Make A Cute Music Box For Your Little Boy Or Girl

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Copyright 2006 Monique Hawkins

If you are creative and want to make something special for your little boy or girl, a cute music box would sure bring a smile to their face as well as create a memory to last a lifetime! If you are so inclined, here are the directions for a fun “Whistle While You Work” music box taken from Sharon Ganske’s book, “Making Marvelous Music Boxes.”

Materials Needed

For the Base, Including Music Box Accessories:

Wooden trunk
9″ wide X 5 1/2″ deep x 5″ high
18 note key-wind musical movement
Turntable, 1″
Key extende, 1/2″
4 wooden bells, 1″
Sandpaper
Wood Sealer

Decorative Accessories for Music Box:

Assortment of Lego buiding blocks
Yellow Lego building board, 5″ x 5 1/2″
Border stencil, 1 1/2″-wide design
Acrylic Paint Colors:

To match Lego building blocks

Blue
Green
Red
Yellow

Adhesives and Spray Sealer:

Industrial strength glue
Stencil, Adhesive, or tape
Gloss spray sealer

Tools and Brushes:

Drill with 1/4″ drill bit
Old paintbrush
Paintbrush
Paper towels

Stenciling

Sponge brush

Step by Step Assembly Instructions

Step One:

Using sandpaper, sand the wooden trunk of the music box as well as the lid. Next, use an old paintbrush to apply wood sealer to the trunk and lid following the manufacturer’s directions. Allow to dry throughly.

Step Two:

Using a paintbrush, paint the sides of the trunk with yellow acrylic paint. Next, paint the lid and bottom of base with blue and bells with red.

Step Three:

Using stencil, adhesive, or tape, center the border stencil between top and bottom of one side of the trunk. Using a stenciling sponge brush, sponge the stencil with green, red, and blue acrylic paint. Dip a small edge of the sponge brush in green acrylic paint, stenciling one side at a time. Blot on paper towels. Then, lighlty sponge one area at a time that is to be green, being careful not to get paint on unwanted areas. Allow to dry throughly.

You will next carefully sponge over the green areas again with enough coats to cover them completely-do not apply the paint too heavily or it will run under the stencil. Do not remove the stencil. Repeat the process with red and then blue. When dry, remove the stencil, and sponge the three remaining sides in the same way. Allow to dry throughly. Spray trunk, lid, and bells with gloss sealer.

Step Four:

Drill a 1/4″ hole in the center front of trunk.

Step Five:

Using industrial strength glue, glue a few Lego blocks together for a winding knob. Glue turntable to back center for Lego winding knob.

Step Six:

Glue musical movement inside trunk, making sure the winding-key shaft is centered in hole. Remove the lid. Glue 5″ x 5 1/2″ yellow Lego building board to top of the lid, making sure it is centered. Turn the trunk upside down, and glue one bell to bottom of the box at corners for legs. Allow to dry.

Step Seven:

Wind the turntable onto key extender. Wind the key-extender onto the winding key-shaft. The turntable is the winding key. Using the remaining Lego building blocks, create anything you desire. Then, you can take the creation apart and build something new as well!

Making a music box for your child can be a lot of fun. All it takes is a willingness to try. Begin today and create a memory to last a lifetime!