Musical Meditation or Therapy

Author: John Stillwell

Article:
MUSICAL MEDITATION OR THERAPY

We ourselves are a kind of musical instrument. We can sing, hum,
whistle and make many other expressive and pleasing sounds.
Sound waves are an integral part of the fabric of Creation. We
use the words harmony, in tune, flow, express, create, commune,
in trance, healing, stimulate, connect, carried away, relax,
enjoy, motivate, uplift, make, etc. to describe the musical
experience. This is because something special happens inside of
us when we express ourselves with musical sounds.

People have been participating in this musical experience since
time immemorial.My personal experience with the Native American
style flute leads me to believe that this act of making music
has a profound transformative effect. And, this transformative
and therapeutic experience is available to anyone. I find that
in making (playing) music I enter a meditative state. I'm sure
there are many definitions of meditation. By meditative state, I
mean an experience that is categorically different than what we
experience in our usual mundane activities. I have experienced
in myself that this musical meditation has the potential to
relax me, focus my attention, stop the inner dialogue and open
up a connection to a more fundamental (some say higher) state of
consciousness.

In this respect the flute can be considered a transformative or
meditational tool.I think that making music is an avenue, if you
will, to what some call inner regions. It is an opportunity -
open to anyone - to go on a journey to a place without walls,
without form and without preconceptions. A mini vacation from
the everyday world. This musical experience is a place of
astounding inner freedom. It can be experienced through chanting
and singing. This therapeutic meditative state is also
experienced when playing the hand drum or Native American style
flute.Very early on, being the inventive creatures that we are,
humans began making special physical objects to expand the range
of the musical sounds that they could make.

We now call these objects musical instruments. At first, these
music making devices were simple affairs. They allowed everyone
to make music. A flute was a hollow stick or bone with a few
holes. But, as our civilization has changed it created more and
more elaborate musical instruments. Now a flute is a metal
affair with so many bells and whistles that it looks like you
could fly it to the moon. These new and refined instruments
have, on the one hand expanded the range and type of musical
sound.. For example, increased volume and diversity of scale. On
the other hand, the very complexity of these instruments has
limited the number of those people who could actually enjoy
playing them.

Once music making was open to everyone. Now, it has become the
provenance of a select few who have the talent and dedication to
master these difficult modern instruments. Musicians have become
professionals and the rest of us are an audience.This was not
deliberate. But, it is unfortunate. Now the vast majority of us
don't make music, we listen to music. The experience of making
music and listening to it are not the same. It is as if instead
of dancing we were content to watch others as they danced. We
can derive a certain type of pleasure thereby but it is not the
same as dancing ourselves. We have become spectators instead of
participants. And, our bodies, hearts and minds are diminished
thereby.

The simple musical instruments on which earlier peoples played -
and in many cultures still do play - continue to exist. A lot of
us were unaware of this. We thought that the band instruments
that we were introduced to in school were all that was available
to someone who wanted to make music. And, the music we were
taught to play was very regimented and static. It was not our
own inner music but some other persons music. Fortunately, the
simple instruments of our ancestors such as the hand drums,
thumb piano and Native American flute are still available They
are being rediscovered.

These simple instruments can be played with little effort by
almost anyone. I bear witness that this is true. Pictures and
more information about Native American style flutes can be
obtained at href="http://atflutes.com/">http://atflutes.com/ In grade
school I played the trumpet. I wanted to play the snare drum and
so did all the other boys. Because I wasn't a teachers pet and
she needed trumpet players I ended up with a trumpet. After a
couple of practice sessions at home my Dad stuffed a sock in it
which further dampened my already weak enthusiasm. I high school
I played the clarinet for a while - why I can't remember. In
college I thought I'd try the guitar (the cool thing to do). I
really didn't feel comfortable with or enjoy any of these
instruments. For years I didn't participate in any kind of
music. I looked with envy at those who could enjoy the musical
experience. But, I thought that because of some lack in myself I
was not capable of making music.Then fate (karma, destiny,
chance) put a very simple flute in my hands. It looked like -
you guessed it - a stick with a few holes in it. I blew on it
gently - it made a nice, soft sound. I placed my fingers over
the holes - it made a different sound. It was easy, and it
wasn't threatening. Those first combinations of notes were so
simple I imagine no one could appreciate them but me. However,
they were coming from within me and I was enjoying what was
going on. Not struggling, not practicing but enjoying.

That was the beginning and the story goes on. I have developed a
relationship with the Native American flute. When I play, I am
almost instantly transported out of myself into a place of deep
relaxation and enjoyment. I can only call this feeling
meditative. Any worries, cares, problems that I think I have,
immediately disappear. When I stop - after a few minutes of half
an hour it doesn't matter - I feel clean, relaxed and refreshed.
Perhaps it has something to do with the rhythmical breathing or
the dancing of the fingers over the tone holes. I don't know
what causes it. I'll leave it to someone else will seek a
scientific explanation of the phenomena.

This experience is not unique to me. I have seen (after having
talked with many people who have had a similar response to
playing their flutes) that this experience is available to
anyone Because of our early conditioning and negative
experiences many of us have been turned away from making our own
music. We stood outside and looked in while others played. This
does not need to be so. You can reestablish your connection to
this extraordinary state of consciousness. It just takes a
little willingness. Willingness to let go of self consciousness,
old fears and inhibitions. Let go of the "I can't do that
attitude" that imprisons our musical muse.When you are ready the
flute is there. Why not give it a try? What have you got to
lose? Your fear of failure, your fear of ridicule? That's right,
you can lose that stuff. Why not now.

The human mind in its habitual waking state pulsates with
electrical energy at a rate of fourteen beats per second This
pulsation is called the "Beta" wave. In a meditative state or a
sleep state our mind pulses at a slower or " Alpha" wave rhythm
of eight to thirteen times per second. The "Theta" waves of deep
meditation are four to seven pulses per second. These lower
rates of electrical activity are essential for problem solving,
setting and attaining goals, and for experiencing that profound
sense of pleasurable, meditative relaxation that we are so
ardently seeking. You will find that playing your flute can take
you to this place of inner joy. Enjoy your flute. For more
information about flutes and flute playing go to href="http://atflutes.com/">http://atflutes.com/and see for
yourself how you can discover to musical spaces within.



About the author:
I am a maker and player of the Native American Love flute. As a
player I am an amature flute player but I bring a lifetime of
woodworking knowlegde to making flutes. I have been playing for
more than ten years and the enjoyment and satisfaction that I
find in this simple instrument continues to grow daily.

Music Education For Children

Author: Nicole Munoz

Article:
Studies have shown that music and music training provide a
wealth of educational benefits to children. Early exposure to
music has been proven to help develop areas of the brain
responsible for language and reasoning skills. Music education
also increases the spatial and temporal reasoning necessary for
advanced mathematics. Children who study music typically score
better on standardized testing as well.

Music education not only provides children with a terrific
healthy outlet for self-expression, it enhances creativity and
boosts self-esteem. There are a number of ways for parents to
help their child receive quality education in music, starting as
young as birth. The most important thing is to expose your child
to a variety of music, including several different genres, not
just classical or kid's music.

Sing songs to your infant each day. Fun, repetitive songs with
movements or motions are best and as your child gets older, you
can encourage her to join in. By the toddler years, your little
one can dance along with music. Continue to sing simple silly
songs with your toddler and dance together to a variety of
songs, both upbeat and slow. Toys, like the Baby Einstein
Learning Sounds Piano, will allow your toddler to create her own
beats and songs.

Preschool age children can begin to differentiate between tones
and pitches. Play games to pick which note is higher and which
is lower. Introduce your preschooler to the specific sounds made
by various instruments as well. Continue to listen to many
different types of music with your preschooler and discuss how
various pieces make you and our child feel.

Make musical instruments with your preschooler and play them
together. Shakers are easy to make out of ordinary household
items. Attach two paper plates together with a hole puncher and
yarn or cover the ends of a toilet paper tube with construction
paper and fill either with dry beans or rice. A coffee can and
lid can be used as a drum. Have fun and use your imagination to
create your own family band.

You may want to start formal music education with music lessons
at this age. Discuss how various instruments are played and
allow your child to choose the one he would like to learn. Visit
a symphony or orchestra performance to investigate the various
instruments. Piano lessons are typically best for this age
because your child will learn to read and play music without
having to remember difficult fingering techniques.

Continue your child's music education as she enters elementary
school. As your child gets older, she may begin to prefer a
certain genre of music, but keep exposing her to a variety of
music. Allow her to start learning an instrument by this age and
make practice a part of her daily routine. Provide your child
with encouragement and support in her musical endeavors.

By the middle school and high school years, encourage your child
to be a part of a band, symphony, or orchestra. Playing music as
a group provides even more developmental benefits than playing
alone and a teenager's involvement in a quality music program is
important for self-development.

Music, even without the educational benefits research has
proven, is a fun and relaxing pastime. Start at a very young age
to instill the love of music in your child and continue
throughout her childhood to provide an excellent musical
education that will drive her future success.

About the author:
For more tips on parenting and href="http://www.thekidstoystore.com/puppet-theaters.html">educat
ional toys, please see our website href="http://www.thekidstoystore.com/">www.thekidstoystore.com>.

8 Easy Musical Instruments That You Can Learn To Play Quickly

Author: Duane Shinn

Article:
There is really nothing in the world like music. There have been
studies to show the amazing effect that is has on the human
brain, such as the link between music and spatial intelligence.
The only thing that can compare with listening to music is the
ability to make our own music.

Not everyone is as gifted as the rest when it comes to playing
music. Not all of us have the time, or want to invest the time
in learning to play a complicated instrument such as the piano.
That does not mean that we don't all want to be able to play an
instrument. There are easy musical instruments that you can
learn to play quickly. Here are eight:

1. Drums. If you have a pretty good sense of rhythm, drums are a
fairly easy musical instrument that you can learn to play
quickly. You won't be great, but you can sure have fun. There
are many kinds of drums, from the congo drum to the high hat to
the bass drum to the snare drum. Drums, along with the
tambourine, belong to the percussion family. Which means the
hitting of one body against another; the drum is also played
with the hands or a person can use one to two sticks. It is just
a matter of counting beats as you play, either mechanically or
by feeling the beat.

2. Tambourines. This easy musical instrument is made up of a
shallow hand held drum, usually made from a circular piece of
wood and calf skin or plastic that is stretched across the top.
You play it with your hands, stroking or shaking the jingle or
rubbing, shaking or striking the drum head with your knuckles.
Play what feels good.

3. Bongos. Another percussion instrument that is easy to learn
to play are the bongos. Bongos are a type of drum made up of two
sections, one of which is larger then the other. The drums are
attached to one another. Played by placing the bongos between
the knees, they produce a high pitched sound. When the bongos
are placed between the knees correctly, the larger drum will be
to the right. Traditionally, they are played by striking the
tops with your fingers and palms. There are times when the
bongos are played with sticks and brushes. It is possible to
alter the sound from the bongos by placing one hand on the top
of the drum and then beat it with the other hand.

4. Comb buzzer. We can look at a couple wind instruments that
are also easy musical instruments that you can learn to play
quickly. One of my favorites would be the comb buzzer. This
instrument is truly one anyone that can breathe can play. It is
not only easy; you can make it at home. You take a pocket comb
and tissue paper. Hold the tissue paper against the comb and hum
through the tissue paper. This produces a buzzing sound and it
tickles the lips.

5. Kazoo. If you are having fun with the comb buzzer, then try
the kazoo. The kazoo is also a fun instrument that is played by
humming. The kazoo adds a humming noise. People play the kazoo
by closing your lips around the kazoo and singing into it. Most
people that try to hum into the kazoo are not very successful.
But if you sing into it, for example, repeating the word do, do,
do, do in to the kazoo you get that wonderful humming sound.

6. Recorder. The next step up from the kazoo, is the recorder.
It is a fun and easy to learn instrument that you can learn to
play quickly. To play the recorder, you hold it outward from
your lips, unlike the traditional flute that is held sideways.
You then blow or breath, really, into the recorder, and the
pitch or note that is played varies by the open finger holes.
You can use all parts of your mouth to manipulate the sound from
the recorder. In particular, use the tongue and the diaphragm to
help control air flow, hence lengthening the time a note is held
and how many different notes are played on a breath. Quality
recorders come in many sizes and are made of wood. There are
also plastic recorders, used widely in schools, and sometimes
also known as a "tonette". Tin whistles and ocarinas are similar
types of recorders.

7. Xylophone. Often used in the orchestra as a serious
instrument, the xylophone is a like a piano keyboard that you
strike with mallets. With the larger, lower-sounding bars on the
left, the notes of the xylophone are laid out much like a piano
keyboard. Striking the bars with hard mallets produces a bright,
sharp sound. Xylophones made of wood can be very expensive, but
for fun and quick learning, a small xylophone made of metal or
metal and plastic is ideal, and are used in many schools.

8. Autoharp. The autoharp is a musical instrument having a
series of chord bars attached to dampers which, when depressed,
mute all the strings other than those that form the chord you
want to play. The autoharp is not really a harp at all, but in
reality is a zither.

As you can see, just because you are limited on time or possibly
ability does not mean that you can not play an instrument for
your own enjoyment. There are easy musical instruments that you
can learn to play quickly. Percussion instruments and wind
instruments make for easy learning and quick fun. Enjoy the
benefits of making music and find a new talent or at least a new
hobby.

About the author:
Duane Shinn is the author of the popular free 101-week online
e-mail newsletter titled href=http://www.playpiano.com/>"Amazing Secrets Of Exciting
Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions- Intelligent Piano
Lessons For Adults Only! " with over 84,400 current
subscribers.

Classification Of Musical Instruments

Author: Linda Polansky

Article:
All people enjoy one or the other kind of music. Music has a
soothing effect on the body and the mind. It also has some
healing capabilities which medicine and science have been trying
to decipher for years. Music can be enjoyed and learned by
people of all age groups. A large number of music schools have
come up in the recent years which teach interested persons how
to play different types of instruments.

Before you set to buy a musical instrument or even learn one,
you need to know about the different types of musical
instruments that exist.

a) Wind instruments: Sound is produced in these instruments when
a column of air is made to vibrate inside them. These
instruments are further divided into brass and woodwind
instruments. The length of the column of air and the shape of
the instrument play a major role in determining the frequency of
the wave generated. Different tones are produced depending on
the construction of the instrument and method of tone production.

b) Percussion instruments: Sound is produced in these
instruments by simply striking them. The sound produced in this
case may or may not be of high pitch. The cavity of the
instrument surrounding the area where it is struck vibrates and
sound is produced. The shape and material of the instrument also
decide the type of sound produced form this instrument.

c) String instruments: These instruments produce sound when the
string is disturbed from its original position by the
application of force. The length of the vibrating string, the
mass, tension and the point at which the string is excited
determine the frequency of the sound produced. The tone of sound
produced by these instruments can vary depending on the shape
and resonating cavity construction of each instrument.

d) Electronic instruments: Sound is produced in these
instruments through electronic means by imitating the sounds
produced by other instruments. They resemble keyboards in
appearance.

e) Brass instruments: Sound is produced in these instruments
when air is blown into a tube with different length or thickness
to generate a wide range of sounds.

f) Keyboard instruments: These instruments can use any of the
above methods to generate musical sounds. Each key in the
keyboard can produce one sound or the other. Keyboards are
famous for producing a combination of different sounds and can
also imitate the sound produced by other musical instruments.

About the author:
Linda Polansky writes about href="http://www.guitarsampsetc.com">Guitar Deals, href="http://www.guitarsampsetc.com/Categories/Live%20Sound.html"
>Guitar Live Sound and href="http://www.guitarsampsetc.com/Categories/Woods%20and%20Bras
s/Misc/Harps.html">Harps On Sale.

Fender Guitar Series: A Snapshot

Author: Blair Stephens

Article:
The Fender American Standard series of guitars features both
Telecaster and Stratocasters, the legends of the Fender name.
The most affordable guitars in the Fender line-up, the classic
style has some new updates to please musicians everywhere.
Refinements include changes to some, but not all models of the
guitars allowing musicians to select the guitar that best suits
their playing style. The American Series guitars typically have
twenty-two frets rather than the previous twenty-one, some
feature humbuckers, synchonized tremolo arm, a steel bridge
plate for added sustain and the three-sadle bridge has been
replaced by a six-sadle bridge. The new six-sadle bridge means
that you can adjust the height and length of each string
independently. Available in a wide variety of colors and
finishes, these guitars live up to the Fender legacy.

The Beginning The first major electric guitar designed and
produced by Leo Fender, the href="http://www.musicpower.com/storeitems.asp?bc=fender">Fender
Telecaster was introduced in the 1940's. With solid body
construction and electronic amplification this was the first
guitar to allow musicians to use the instrument with a band or
as a solo instrument in a larger forum. Instantly popular with
musicians across the genres, the Telecaster was embraced by
Blues, Country and later Rock n' Roll musicians. Fender is known
for its treble tone and the Telecaster is particularly known for
its bright and clear tones. The bridge pickup of the Telecaster
is wound more than the pickup for the neck with emphasizes the
treble tone and the slanted neck also gives a more treble sound
while the lower tones are dampened. A versatile instrument
musicians can use the controls for volume and tone to craft
their own sound. For more than fifty years the Telecaster has
been a favorite of both professional and amateur musicians.

The Next Step The second big innovation from the workshop of Leo
Fender was the Stratocaster. Designed in the early 1950's, the
Stratocaster was the result of all that had been learned from
making the Telecaster combined with feedback from musicians
about what worked and what didn't and what they wanted. Overall,
the Stratocaster is a more complicated instrument with three
single coil pickups which increases the tone and overall sound
of the guitar. The addition of the Fender vibrato bridge allowed
musicians to bend the strings to achieve a sound similar to the
popular pedal-steel instruments. The already wide variety of
tones that were created by the Stratocaster were expanded with
the creation of the synchronized tremoloarm. A tremolo arm
allows a guitar player to quickly vary the tension of the
strings which temporarily changes the pitch to create vibrato,
portamento and pitch effect expanding the options available for
the musician. There were changes made to the overall design of
the guitar body as well. Beveled areas for where the strumming
arm rests and for the player's chest were added for a fitted
feel that is comfortable for long session.

Creating the Fender Sound The href="http://www.musicpower.com/storeitems.asp?cc=electric-guitar
">electric guitar was brought to life with the invention of
the single coil pickup. A single coil pickup is created by
wrapping a permanent magnet with fine enameled copper and then
mounting the coil on the body of the guitar. When the player
then plucks the strings, they vibrate and effect the magnetic
flux which changes the voltage that passes through the coild of
wire. The signal is modified by these changes in voltage and
travels through the wire to the amplifier or recording device.
The sound can then be amplified to be heard at any volume, from
your garage to a stadium concert.

In its traditional form, the Telecaster guitar features just two
single coil pickups but the three-way selector switch provides
flexibility in choosing which pickup to use and further controls
for tone and volume shape the sound. In the Stratocaster there
are three standard single coil pickups mounted in series for the
bridge middle and neck. With a switch of a lever the player can
select which pickup they want to be active. Theey can use two
pickups in combination, a single or all three to produce the
sound that they want.

Further Innovation First introduced in the 1950's, a humbucker
is popular among many musicians for its ability to clarify
sound. Electronic guitars rely on single coil magnetic pickups
to 'pick up' and convey the alternated voltage created by the
vibrating strings to create music. But these magnets can act as
antennae and are vulnerable to picking up other signals not
intended by the musician. The single coil magnetic pickups are
sensitive to electromagnetic interference that can be generated
by electrical appliances, computer screens, motors and other
signals as well, all of which create a 'hum' or 'buzz' in the
sound produced by the guitar. A humbucker uses two additional
coils (although there are several versions of the humbucker) to
cancel the interference, which literally bucks the hum and
leaves only the pure musical sound to be amplified. In the
American Series there are several Stratocasters that have
humbuckers in their designs.

The Little Things The sound of each guitar is unique and can be
personized and shaped by several factors. Where the pickups are
positioned, the number of coils wound around each magnet, what
type of wire is used, the shape of the guitar, the kind of wood
used in the neck and body and the position of the strings all
have an impact on the sound. Using the tone controls to
determine which pickups are featured gives musicians control
over their sound. Pickups in the bridge position bring a bright,
harmonic-rich and sharp tone compared to those pickups in the
neck position which are louder, more warm and mellow in nature.

The name Fender brings a wealth of history and achievement to
mind- from Muddy Waters to Eric Clapton to Ritchie Blackmore the
artists that have embraced the href="http://www.musicpower.com/storeitems.asp?bc=fender">Fender
electric guitars have set the standard for all who play. The
latest generation of guitars to be embraced by musicians, the
American Standard series features both Stratocaster® and
Telecaster® guitars from legendary Fender. True to their
historic past these guitars are beautifully crafted with small
updates to their design. The most affordable line of Fender
guitars, The American Standard Series brings everything you
expect from the Fender name without compromise.

About the author:
Blair Stephens is an experienced writer and proud member of the
Music Power team. We offer the best selection of electric and
acoustic guitars in all the best brands. Learn more about
guitars in our Musician Articles at
http://www.musicpower.com/musician-articles.asp.